World Bicycle Forum

After attending the 3rd World Bicycle Forum in Curitiba, Brazil in February 2014, Bikes Not Bombs became an active member of the coordinating and organizing team for the 4th World Bicycle Forum which took place in Medellin, Colombia in February 2015.

The World Bicycle Forum is the largest grassroots-organized bicycle forum in the world. The event is entirely planned, organized and run by volunteers, and is free for all to attend. The event started in 2011 in Porto Alegre, Brazil as a citizen response to a tragic incident where a driver purposely drove through a critical mass ride, injuring dozens of cyclists. In the aftermath of the event, cyclists in the Porto Alegre wanted to organize an event that would celebrate the intersections between biking, art and activism. The forum has steadily grown each year, travelling out of Brazil for the first time in 2015.

Bikes Not Bombs is proud to have been part of the Program Committee of the World Bicycle Forum for 2015, and to help support an event building bike culture and the bike movement through grass-roots activism on a global scale.

The theme for the 2015 edition of the World Bike Forum was “Cities for All”, relating to ideas geared for humans and living spaces. The forum discussed how cities can be organized to the benefit of all it’s citizens. After all, it is not just an event for cyclists, but for the entire population.

While societies in the entire world are urbanizing they face environmental as well as social challenges. At the same time the bicycle is gaining momentum as a serious transportation option and catalyst for creating better living spaces for all humans. In this process, cycling advocacy and citizen engagement play a crucial role in employing the bicycle as a vehicle for social change and urban equity. It is time for the bicycle to take a leading role in shaping an equitable and sustainable city for all!

The forum celebrated and furthered the work of various stakeholders (individuals, groups, NGOs, businesses, or government agencies) working together to bring about positive change on all levels: individual, local, regional, national and global. Collectively, we will discuss, think and plan solutions so that bicycles, pedestrians and motorists can coexist in harmony. And the more thinking heads, the better – and merrier!

Our Hub is closed through March 31st, 2019, as we work to #UniteUnderOneRoof! Please bring any bike donations to our Bike Shop during regular business hours. We will keep you updated here and on social media with our progress! We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience as we prepare to share our new space in the future!

Bikes Not Bombs was founded in 1984 and is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit.All donations are tax deductible.